Your paint is faded and you are wondering if it is time for a respray. Before you call a body shop, look at what each option actually costs you in money, time, and hassle.
The respray
- What it takes: a body shop, sanding, masking, a paint booth, and a spray gun.
- Cost: can run into the thousands for a full car.
- Time: your car sits at the shop until they are done, on their schedule.
- The catch: you are paying for labor, booth time, and materials, even when the paint underneath is still there.
Wipe On Clear Coat
- What it takes: a clean panel and an applicator or a rag.
- Cost: $34.99 for one bottle, or $59.99 for the 2-pack.
- Time: an afternoon in your own driveway.
- The upside: your car never leaves home, and it is protected for up to 2 years.
Side by side
| Respray | Wipe On Clear Coat | |
|---|---|---|
| Tools | Paint booth and spray gun | Applicator or rag |
| Cost | Can run into the thousands | From $34.99 |
| Where | Body shop | Your driveway |
| Your car | Gone until it is finished | Never leaves home |
Why most faded cars do not need a respray
Sun-faded paint usually looks worse than it is. The color is still there, buried under a dull, cooked top layer. What it needs is a fresh glossy surface, and that is exactly what a wipe on clear coat gives it, for a tiny slice of what a shop would charge.
Spend the difference on tires. Or gas. Or grab the 2-pack and do the truck too.